US Drought Threatens Drinking Water of Some Midwest Towns

Drought is a state of prolonged periods of dry conditions and lack of precipitation, such as rainfall or snow. While the phenomenon is currently attributed to human-induced climate change and global warming, drought has existed and even impacted ancient civilizations for thousands of years, based on archaeological evidence.

Yet, the onset of the 21^st century saw the persistence of a megadrought in southwestern North America.

In the United States, drought is threatening the drinking water supply of some towns in the Midwest region, according to reports earlier this week. The said natural disaster has affected the country, especially the western states, for several decades already.

However, the persistent drought in the region has taken its toll, causing some of the region's water basins to be either depleted or below their normal levels. Now, local authorities have been scrambling to conserve water for a growing human population.

Midwest Drought

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 40% of the Midwest is currently impacted by drought, particularly in the Upper Midwest and the south into Iowa and Missouri. In addition, 78% of Wisconsin is experiencing drought, as well as Minnesota and the Upper Mississippi River.

Furthermore, the drought monitor also shows the persistence of high temperatures and dry conditions in Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Texas, and other states.

The looming threat posed by the extreme weather event in the region means that small towns and ranches could face challenging choices as to where to get water resources.

US Drought Statistics

In a drought report last month, the NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) stated 'severe to extreme drought' impacted approximately 18% of the contiguous US by the end of August 2023, based on the Palmer Drought Index. The said figure was an increase of 9% from July 2023.

Furthermore, the NCEI adds that around 29% of the contiguous US fell under the 'moderate to extreme drought' categories at the end of August.

The August 2023 drought report also shows the Great Plains region is one of the drought epicenters in the country, with the Midwest being the other epicenter. Related cases have been recorded in the southern, central, and northern parts of the US in August.

US Megadrought

The existing drought in the Midwest and its adjacent regions across the US is no surprise due to the persistence of a megadrought in the southwestern parts of North America or Western US, as mentioned earlier.

The World Economic Forum on September 20 cited from a study that the current megadrought in the Western US is the "most extreme megadrought" in the past 1,200 years. The organization highlighted the drought is a manifestation of high temperatures and low precipitation, which was especially evident between the summers of 2020 and 2021.

Outside the US, other parts of the world have also experienced moderate to extreme drought in recent months and years, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, China, and Somalia.